Before surrendering to federal police authorities, Mr. da Silva, 72, accused prosecutors and judges of knowingly pursuing a baseless case against him. “I do not forgive them for creating the impression that I am a thief,” an indignant Mr. da...

The remarks set off accusations that Brazil’s military, which has been largely silent on political debates since democracy was restored in 1985 after a two-decade military dictatorship, was signaling how it wanted the country’s top court to rule on an...